BMW unveils new 3 Series BMW revealed pictures of its new 3 Series on Monday. Due for a September launch in Europe, the compact is the marque's most popular car in Hong Kong and will be unveiled here 'by the end of the year', says BMW Concessionaires (HK) spokesman Eric Leung.
The revised 3 Series (above) is offered with five petrol and five diesel derivatives, the highlights of which are the marque's new 245 brake horsepower diesel 330d engine and the three-litre, twin-turbocharged unit that won the International Engine of the Year for 2007 and 2008. The saloon and touring estate versions seem more attractive with a revamped kidney grille, and more muscular with two raised lines on the bonnet. The apron, rear valance and boot lid have all been styled, and we think for the better. The headlights feature twin corona sidelights as standard and the rear light cluster is now uniform red with LED technology, BMW says.
The marque has also increased the size of the car's wing mirrors, a bonus for local drivers, and its track is 24mm wider, the marque says, to improve its drive.
We also learn that BMW has made the 3 Series' iDrive easier to handle, with a new on-screen layout with scroll-across display, 'back' button and shortcut keys that are supposed to improve navigation.
''Favourites' buttons below the iDrive screen adds another element of practicality, allowing you to call up favourite destinations, music sources and phone book entries,' the marque says. 'Other interior changes for the 3 Series include improved ergonomics, such as the positioning of switchgear, and more luxurious materials.' And like the new 7 Series, the compact can store 'in excess of 100 albums' thanks to 8GB of data storage.
The 3 Series boasts six airbags, front and rear Isofix child seat mounts, front airbag deactivation, advanced stability control systems and active head restraints as standard for the first time.
